The French Country style of decorating, with its warm and
casual feel is a style that will fit beautifully into your home.
French provincial decor is often interpreted
as “romantic”, with lace, ruffles, flounces
and bows. That’s not altogether surprising
when you consider that the baroque
lines of Louis XV furniture are often seen
as quintessentially French, but what we
tend to overlook, is that the elegance and
appeal of contemporary French provincial
decor comes from its no-frills restraint, its
earthiness and nonchalance in mixing old
and new.
When you think of Provence and the
French countryside, you’re sure to image
lavender fields and bright sunshine. While
there are many elements that contribute
to the French Country style of decorating,
the resulting look is always rustic, oldworld, and welcoming styles that fit
perfectly into both country houses and
elegant old chateaux.
The colours used to decorate in the French
Country style cover the full spectrum of
the colour wheel: Sunny yellow and soft
gold, fiery red and burnt rust, bright grass
green and dark hunter green, cobalt
blue and soft ocean tones.
Bright black and dull greys punctuate
the bright colours and define accessory
pieces, while rusted metal furniture,
lighting fixtures, and furniture give warm
colour and wonderful lines.
An important element in pieces used in
French Country style decorating is the
use of natural materials. Rough stained
or painted plaster walls, hefty beamed
ceilings and walls, delicate carved wood
details, and chair seats woven of rush give
texture and simplicity to the look.
Natural stone floors are covered with wool
or cotton rugs and by no means would a
real French Country home be complete
without a stone fireplace.
Typical of French Country interiors are
window shutters which are closed to keep
the hot sun out in the summer. Windows
and doorways are encircled with wildly
growing vines and are painted in shades of
green & purple as to blend harmoniously
with the natural environment.